See, morbid and creepifying I can handle(Invite)

[mugenginga]

Makoto looked up. He was back to looking confused.

_{"....Alliance. You... should leave me.}

Makoto began jiggling the guard at the side of his bed with his good hand. Simon didn't show signs of moving so he'd have to get down this way. Yeah, the teenager looked seventeen, but he was having an awful lot of trouble with the bed's guard. It was kind of apparant he wanted down. He felt his vision swim and suddenly had the need to lay down.

He let go of the guard and let his head fall onto the pillow. He was breathing somewhat heavily, as if jiggling the guard had worn him out. He felt tired... but he couldn't sleep. He wasn't to the point of sleep deprivation. He couldn't sleep before then...

[Jilak]

Well that was odd. The sickly, seemingly abused, malnourished teenager was having trouble with the hospital bed's guards. What a shockingly surprising surprise. I mean, really. This author personally expected him to turn into the incredible Hulk and chuck it halfway across the island or something.

All joking aside, Simon was currently having an internal debate with himself. He could have let the teenager off the bed, yes. But Makoto would, possibly, injure himself if he tried to move away. Which Simon, of course, assumed he would. Only one way to find out, though...

"I can... help you get off your bed. But you have to promise me you won't run away or anything. I'm afraid you could hurt yourself."

[mugenginga]

Makoto looked up. Still confused. The man was offering to help him down. And not threatening to restrain him. He asked for a promise for Makoto to not run off, which meant he wasn't planning on playing a game of cat and mouse with him. This was all an awful lot for Makoto to sort through. He wasn't used to people being nice to him. The few cases they were it was because they were after something or he'd done something that had pleased the Global Alliance members that ran the compound he was kept in. He hesitated for a moment.

There was a simple way to handle this. He could attempt to read Simon's mind. He was low on energy and it would be very draining, but it would be something that could put his mind at ease. But the fact was the man was well dressed. He spoke properly. Despite his unusual way of acting, he could still be with the Global Alliance. Which meant he'd probably know if Makoto tried to read his mind, and the kind act would drop if that occurred.

A few minutes had passed, but it was clear thoughts were going through the teenager's mind. Finally he nodded, although he scooted back on the bed a bit. He was still holding his hand close. Fact was he had bruised the hell out of the area just below his wrist and his malnourished state had even allowed a very slight crack to appear in the bone. As in if he whacked it again it would definently break. It hurt a lot, but it was nothing compared to the pain of the Psycho-Slaves. If Simon was paying attention to it, though, he'd realize the teen didn't seem to be able to rotate his wrist.

[Jilak]

Okay, now they were getting somewhere. Whether the injured teenager was starting to particularly warm up to him or not was still in question, but at the very least, he seemed to tentatively trust Simon enough to allow him to help out. He began by slowly moving the left guard down. Quite honestly, he was afraid a sudden movement would have sent the child running. He reached for him, again moving very slowly, to help him down.

"Easy now, easy... don't want to further aggravate your injuries. Especially that wrist. I'm hoping I'll be able to find something to use as a makeshift sling. The rope I was tied in when I fell here wouldn't work, and would probably just break your wrist." Simon spoke as he attempted to help Makoto down.

[mugenginga]

Simon had probably made the right choice. Makoto watched the doctor's hands as they moved. Despite moving slowly, Makoto winced as one hand came close to him. He really did seem like he expected to be hit at any moment. The guard came down, although it dropped the last inch or so causing Makoto to hop towards the far right side of the bed.

This knocked what little support the right guard had and it not only went down, but it fell off. It clattered to the ruined ground beneath it and Makoto managed to jerk off the left side. He was favoring his left wrist, so he managed not to hit it. By some luck, Simon had his hand positioned that Makoto didn't trip his entire body over it. He landed on his feet on the left side of the bed. His eyes were wide and he looked like he was going to dart.

In fact, he would have darted had his legs let him. However, they were malnourished and weak enough that the poor teenager just crumpled. He somehow found the energy to jerk his head towards Simon and attempted to scoot back with his good hand. This didn't turn out well, as there were various dangerous items around the ruins. Long story short, he managed to drive a piece of wooden shrapnel at an angle into his right palm.

The shrapnel didn't go through his palm, but it was stuck in there well. By some thankful miracle he hadn't hit anything major. It was far to large for a splinter, but it did mean it would be easy to pull out. It would bleed a lot, though, and Makoto didn't look like he had much in the way of blood to spare. He pulled his right hand close with a muted hiss, and looked at Simon with wide and fearful eyes... Once again, it seemed like he expected to get in trouble for what had just happened...

[Jilak]

Simon externally cringed. Both for the fact that Makoto had further injured himself and because of how he reacted. Did the boy think Simon was going to hit him? The doctor didn't even want to think of what he must have gone through, all he needed to know was that it was extremely traumatic. But no matter how much he wanted to, there was nothing he could do about it.

No, now, he needed to take care of the child's physical exposition. Worry about his mental state later.

He reached a hand slowly to the boy, hoping he would realize that Simon wanted to help him up. And that he didn't intend on hitting him. It would be easiest to get the splinter out if he put Makoto back on the bed, but that would likely lead to a freak out. No, he had to help the boy get far away from this place. Find some help.

And maybe, if he were lucky, his old captain in the process...

Or Jayne.

[mugenginga]

Makoto scooted his legs close. He might have curled into a fetal position again had he been able to do so and take his eyes off Simon. He still wasn't looking Simon in the eyes. Every time he came close, his head jerked back down. He pulled his legs closer, wincing as the only had that would cooperate was the one with the splinter. He managed to squeeze the legs against his chest.

He didn't look like he was going to try and run again. He didn't look like he didn't trust the hand, he just looked scared. Maybe he didn't trust things, but it was the entire situation. He seemed convinced Simon was going to change tracks on him at any second. The temptation to try and read Simon's rose again, but he pushed it down. No, even if Simon wouldn't hurt him now, if he was with the Global Alliance he'd be hurt if he read Simon's mind. At the worst, he'd wouldn't get what little he was fed. He tried to pull his legs closer, but they couldn't go any closer than the already were.

[Jilak]

"It's okay, don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you. I went through similar situations with my sister... River... a long while ago..." Simon stopped for a moment, a look of emotional distress brushing his face for a brief moment. But he pushed the feelings, the fear for River, down. No. He couldn't help her now. Makoto needed him, even if the boy was terrified of Simon.

He felt that trying to forcefully uncurl the boy would lead to more paranoia directed towards Simon. The doctor could assume this just from the interactions the two had already had. And really, the action would probably just injure him more, anyway. Which would obviously do more harm than good.

"If you still don't trust me, perhaps... we could walk next to each other, and I could only slightly support you so you won't injure yourself more. So if I try anything, you can run." Simon spoke slowly and evenly, doing his best not to startle Makoto.

[mugenginga]

Makoto jerked his head away, thinking Simon was trying to make eye contact again. He listened as Simon talked, though. Walk next to each other? Makoto wasn't sure he could walk at all. Would he get in trouble if he couldn't? There was also the issue of getting up. He couldn't put either hand on the ground. One because his wrist was causing issues, the other because of the piece of wood driven into it.

Makoto looked around, trying to find something he could use as a brace to stand up. The way he was doing it made it seem almost as if he were shaking his head. He looked at the way the bed was against the ground. One of the wheels seemed to be stuck. He put the back of his splintered hand against one and tried to push himself to his feet. He could try to walk... Simon was odd for a Global Alliance member. Maybe he had something to do with the attack that had allowed him to run?

Makoto wasn't having much luck getting up, though...

[Jilak]

This was painful to watch. Truly painful. An injured 17 year old struggling against numerous injuries to stand? Even Jayne would have felt bad for the boy. As such, Simon decided to risk offering his hand again, hoping the boy was starting to trust him.

"It's okay... it's okay... if you can't stand on your own, I've got you. Don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you. No one is. Ever again." Simon stated, forcing as much honest sincerity into it as he possibly could. He wanted Makoto to trust him not because of false words, not because he wanted to trick him, or any such matters.

But because if he didn't, Simon wouldn't be able to help him. And he hoped he was getting the message across.

[mugenginga]

Makoto froze as the hand was offered again. It was a similar reaction to a deer stuck in headlights. He stared at the hand for a few moments before looking towards Simon again. Still his chest, the teenager seemed rather adverse to makin eye contact. Hey remained that way for minutes, his only movement being struggles to get up on his own again. Simon was probably about ready to get up when Makoto looked down and extended his "splintered" hand to Simon.

He seemed to be fighting an urge to pull back. His gaze split itself between seconds between Simon's offered hand and his chest. Simon had said he wasn't with the Global Alliance. He found it hard to believe such a well spoken and healthy man wasn't, but even Makoto had to admit he'd been kept from the outside world. For most of his years alive, he was sure despite the blurring. A bunch of mechas had broken into the place where he was kept, so maybe this person was with them...?

He couldn't trust him, but he could at least get help to his feet...

[Jilak]

Okay. Good. Makoto made a gesture of almost handing Simon his hand. He couldn't ACTUALLY hand him either hand as one of his wrists was nearly broken, and his 'good' hand had a wooden shrapnel embedded in it. Best he could do was grab the wrist of his good hand. Simon moved slowly, making sure not to terrify the boy. He felt he'd have to keep this up until he could prove that he wasn't Alliance. If only Jayne were there. He was as far away from a civilized military officer as you could GET. I mean, really.

However, as Simon extended his hand, his sleeve was brushed up a bit. In such a manner that if, say, Makoto was to look at the man's arm, he'd notice that the ropes had scarred him a bit. Not intentional on Simon's part, but one of two important clues that he wasn't with the Alliance. The other one being on his forehead, which he had completely forgotten to check on. He'd be lucky if his wound wasn't infected come end of the day.

Well, if he made it that far. And the way things were looking, that was very unlikely. In any case, the doctor took the boy's wrist and lightly pulled him to his feet, doing his best not to further hurt him.

There was still a slight problem, however. Even if the pair DID manage to navigate their way from the hospital, where would they go? He could see if he could find the rest of the crew, he supposed... but what were the odds of men like Jayne Cobb and Malcolm Reynolds being HERE?

Even more unlikely was the captain being in a hotel.

[mugenginga]

Unfortunately, Makoto wasn't in a position to be all that observant. And he was altogether too focused on keeping his gaze fixed on Simon's chest so he didn't accidentally give eye contact. It wasn't hard for Simon to pull Makoto up for his low weight, and in fact the doctor probably had to work to not all but yank him off the ground.

The teenager's footing still wasn't stable. It wouldn't have been in a place with good footing, let alone the ruined hospital and its varying levels of ground and junk. He stumbled and managed to fall forward toward's Simon. He tried to throw his weight backwards, but he wasn't in a condition to access fast reflexes, and ended up pretty much faceplanting on Simon's chest. He jerked his head back and his eyes managed to make contact with Simon's. He jerked his head away and winced, this time knowing he was going to get in trouble. Making eye contact and being a klutz.

_{"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Sorry..."}

[Jilak]

Simon supposed it was to be expected. After all, Makoto was already unsteady on his feet, making the hospital, ruined as it was, perhaps the WORST place to attempt to stand. So he understood completely when Makoto faceplanted on his chest, and probably would've done the same, had the situation been reversed. However, he seemed to still be under the impression that Simon meant him harm, or was part of the Alliance. Again, the good doctor felt sorry for him.

"It's okay! It's okay... I'm not going to hurt you. I'm sure I would've done the same if the situation was reversed. The footing in this place isn't exactly the best, and you already seemed pretty unsteady. No one's going to hurt you." Simon did his best to calm the teen.

Because, really, moving him from the destroyed hospital was going to be pretty hard for him if Makoto expected to be harmed, physically, every time he thought he'd made a mistake. And then it hit him, and Simon wondered why he hadn't suggested it sooner.

"Would it help if I told you more about myself? Get you to trust me a bit more?" Simon asked.

[mugenginga]

Makoto's initial reaction to Simon wasn't positive. Simon had spoken quickly and loudly in his attempt to calm the teenager down. It had registered as a yell and he'd winced once again. Then the assurance that it was okay came again, this time softer. Makoto hesitated, not daring to breath for the next sentence, and then looked towards Simon.

The poor teenager seemed very confused. His eyes crossed Simon's for a moment. Once again he jerked his eyes down so he was looking at Simon's chest rather than his eyes. He tried to pull back, but found his balance and ability to stand still lacking. As such he winced and let Simon keep him upright via a slight lean and the grasp the man had on his wrist.

He didn't respond to Simon's question. He just kept his gaze specifically focused away from Simon's eyes. However, he had stopped jerking and his balance seemed as stable as it could get given the circumstances. Every once in a while his legs would wobble, but it seemed more from weakness than lack of balance now.